Method and electrical heating means for warming body extremities



Sept. 2, 1969 T. F. Mam 3,465,120

MET AND ELECTRIC AL HEATING MEANS MING BODY TREMITIES ed April 1968 [nven for Thomas FMerrzcz 23 his Afforn ZWZZ e7 United States Patent 3,465,120 METHOD AND ELECTRICAL HEATING MEANS FOR WARMING BODY EXTREMITIES Thomas F. Merna, P.O. Box 121, South Londonderry, Vt. 05155 Filed Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 724,849 Int. Cl. H051) 1/00, 3/00, 3/18 US. Cl. 219-211 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method for warming body extremities, as for example the hands, without the provision of the usual protective materials, the method comprising raising the temperature of the arteries proximate to the extremities whereby to raise the temperature of blood flowing therethrough to the extremities.

Means for warming body extremities in accordance with the above method, the means comprising a portable localized heat applicator capable of raising the surface temperature of the skin, as for example at the wrist, sufficient to increase the temperature of the arteries proximate thereto to increase the temperature of blood flowing through the arteries to the extremities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to body warming methods and means and is directed more particularly to method and means for warming body extremities, as for example the hands, Without the necessity of enclosing the extremities in the usual paraphernalia such as gloves, mittens or the like.

Description of the prior art There are numerous situations in which it is desirable for operators of various sorts to perform duties with bare hands. In cold weather such performance becomes a problem. Where the operation being performed requires dexterity of the hands and fingers, protective gloves are not suitable inasmuch as they generally tend to render movements of the fingers rather cumbersome. If no protective gloves are used, the time during which the operator may remain at his task is relatively limited.

The above pertains particularly to such situations as emergency repairs to power lines and telephone lines during cold weather, as well as other emergency situations, and sports contests held in cold weather, but which require a high degree of nimbleness of the hands and,fingers for adequate performance. In addition to those situations in which gloves may constitute an occupational hazard, there are many instances in which leisure time or outdoor work would simply be more comfortable and somewhat easier were it not for the necessity of protecting the hands with gloves or mittens or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for warming body extremities, such as the hands, which method greatly reduces the necessity of covering the extremities in cold environments, or at least reduces the degree to which they must be covered.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for warming body extremities, such as the hands, which means does not interfere in any way with the dexterity and nimbleness of the extremities.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the present invention contemplates as a feature thereof a method for warming body extremities 3,465,120 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 comprising heating an artery at a point between the extremity and the heart and proximate to the extremity, whereby to raise the temperature of blood flowing through the artery to an extremity.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided means for warming body extremities comprising heat applicator means, means for aflixing the heat applicator means to the surface of the body at a point over an artery and proximate to a body extremity, portable means for supplying power to the heat applicator means, whereby to heat the skin surface under the heat applicator sufliciently to raise the temperature of the artery, thereby to raise the temperature of blood flowing through the artery to the extremity and thereby to raise the temperature of the extremity.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combination of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and means embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages Will be apparent.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of heat applicator illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2. is a sectional view, taken through the diameter of a heating element support means, of a portion of the heat applicator; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an illustrative electrical circuit for one embodiment of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the drawings, it may be seen that the illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes a support means 2 which may be a thermally conductive grid or plate. The support means 2, shown as a plate in the drawings, is preferably of metal, such as for example, aluminum, and is embedded in a fabric sleeve 4 which may be worn comfortably at a point proximate to a body extremity, as for example on a wrist, as viewed in FIG. 1, close to the hand. The sleeve 4 may be of wool or any other material suitable for wear on the human body and suitable for encasing the plate 2. The sleeve 4 is preferably provided with electric strands 6 Which tend to urge the sleeve 4 into snug engagement with the surface of the wrist, whereby to hold the plate 2 in a position adjacent the skin surface of the wrist.

sulative jacket 16. The Wire may be of any suitably conductive material, as for example nickel chromium.

The electrical leads 12, 14 are, at their ends, attached to a portable battery case 18 which retains at least one small storage battery 20. The battery power may be on the order of 1.5-4.5 volts. The batteries are preferably rechargeable, but may be of the throw-away type, de-

pending upon the intended use of the heating device. The battery case 18, in the latter instance, is of the type which readily releases a battery contained therein and accepts a new battery which may be snapped in easily and quickly. A switch 22 is incorporated in the circuit for the purpose of turning the heat applicator on and 011. A thermostat (not shown) may be included in the device if desired. If so, it is preferable that the thermostat be set so as to provide for skin temperature of approximately 110-125" F.

The length of wire 8 coiled upon the plate 2 will determine, to an extent, the heat generated by the coil. It has been found that with two 1.5 volt batteries, and with about three inches of the nickel chromium wire coiled on an aluminum plate which is about one inch and a quarter in diameter, and utilizing asbestos insulating material, the plate and material being embedded in a wool sleeve, a skin temperature range of about 11012 5 F. is maintained in an environment of about 2032 F which temperature, in the area of the wrist, sufliciently warms the blood flowing in the radial and ulnar arteries to raise the temperature of the hands to a level where they may be normally manipulated without protective covering.

in colder environments, although the above heat range may not permit bare-handed operation, it will in many instances permit thin gloves to be substituted for bulky gloves or mittens, thereby improving the operational capabilities of the hands.

While the above description has been largely limited to warming hands, as an illustration, it will be apparent that the heat applicator may serve the same purpose with regard to the feet, permitting lighter footwear to be worn in place of heavy boots and the like. This aspect of the invention finds particular application in the field of sports where generally the shoes preferred to be worn are of light construction.

In operation, and again using hand warming as an illustrative example, the sleeve is slipped about the wrist and positioned so that the plate is directly over the radial and ulnar arteries. The insulated line 16 is preferably located in the sleeve of the operators upper garment from which point it extends downwardly so that the battery case may be retained in an ordinary pocket in one of the operators garments, as for example a breeches pocket. Where two 1.5 volt batteries are utilized, the batteries and battery case will normally fit a garment pocket without difficulty, or if preferred, may be worn, as for example, attached to the belt of the operator. The switch 22 may be incorporated in the battery case.

When the operator prepares to enter a cold environment, he closes the switch 22 which permits current to flow to the coil 8 supported by the plate 2. The coil generates heat which is imparted to the body to warm the radial and ulnar arteries whereby to heat the blood flowing therethrough to the hand. The temperature of the hand is thereby increased.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular method and construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Method for warming a hand portion of a human body comprising placing a heating device on a related wrist, the heating device comprising a thermally resistive heating plate, electrically conductive wire affixed to said plate, electrically insulating and thermally conductive material enclosing said wire, a flexible sleeve for receiving said plate, elastic means connected to said sleeve for retaining said sleeve adjacent said wrist whereby to retain said plate in a position proximate to an artery of said wrist conveying blood to said hand, and electric means for supplying energy to said heating device, said heating device not being in position to apply heat directly to said hand, and applying heat to said artery by electrically energizing said heating device, whereby to raise the temperature of blood flowing through said artery toward said hand whereby to warm said hand.

2. Device for warming a hand portion of a human body while not in contact with said hand, said device comprising a thermally conductive disc of no more than about one and one-half inches in diameter, electrically resistive heating wire coiled upon and affixed to either side of said disc, electrically insulating and thermally conductive material enclosing said wire, a flexible sleeve for receiving said disc and positioning said disc adjacent a related wrist of said body and proximate to an artery conveying blood to said hand, elastic means connected to said sleeve means for urging said sleeve into close engagement with said wrist, portable electric power means, and electrically conductive means interconnecting said wire and said power means, whereby to raise the temperature of blood in said artery flowing to said hand, thereby to increase the temperature of said hand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,494,987 1/ 1950 Chaitin 128379 2,769,892 11/1956 Collins 128-379 X 2,842,655 7/1958 Schwebel 128402 X 3,178,559 4/1965 Fogel et al. 219-527 2,082,468 6/1937 Pupier 2l9211 2,429,583 10/ 1947 Ogle 219-211 2,584,302 2/1952 Stein 219-527 2,617,916 11/1952 Neidnig 2l9527 3,079,486 2/ 1963 Winchell 219-528 3,293,405 12/1966 Costanzo 2l921l 3,392,264 7/ 1968 Arron 219-211 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,337,026 7/1963 France.

VOLODYMYR Y. MAYEWSKY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

